that's b/c some people are so spoiled they wouldn't even consider taking a bottle and filling it up under a tap source.
> In fact, I've also seen bottled water sold in every location around the world I've traveled to, including areas with good tap water, and both urban and rural locations.
B/c of above reason. Just fill a bottle. If that's too much - then this is an indicator of mental decline.
That a pretty heavy handed value judgment, made seemingly without any consideration that people have differing requirements and lifestyles. It might not be easy, for example, to wash a water container while traveling. Which it may be wise to do daily [1].
Suggesting that everyone who drinks bottled water is in mental decline to me seems unjustified.
[1] http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/wait-youre-supposed-to-w...
and lifestyle is no excuse for living lavishly and inconsiderate or wasting resources.
What you consider wasteful is a personal view. You might consider buying a new mobile phone or computer to be "not wasteful". Others might consider these things entirely unnecessary.
That's fine, in general we get to make those decisions on a personal basis. It doesn't seem reasonable to say someone is "lavishly inconsiderate and wasteful" for buying a bottle of water but not for buying a mobile phone...
I didn't say I wouldn't say that. If somebody buys a new smartphone several times a year then this would also apply.
and germs and their relevance is not a subjective subject. the objective criteria is whether they have a negative impact or not. just b/c there are germs that doesn't mean something is bad. germs are everywhere.
but obsessing over artificial cleanliness is also a neurotic feature of many people from industrial cultures.
Think about it--when you step out of the shower or tub, you are at that moment probably the cleanest thing in your house. Therefore being used to dry you will make the towels cleaner, not get them dirty.
(Yes, I ripped this off: http://dilbert.com/strip/1995-11-24 )
Also from a holistic perspective there is a relationship between no reliable communal water supply and people driving with own car instead of public transportation which often doesn't exist.
Public transportation is just another resource in an abstract way - logistical resources. Don't exist as well. US is fundamentally about "take care of yourself". This just won't work in overcrowded areas.